In the last day of 2014, the news contains some bizarre stories. I never mention my views on this type of story because I'd rather concentrate on uplifting thoughts or problems that require our consideration. But here are a few headlines from BBC News.

A cargo ship said to be carrying 700 clandestine migrants was taken under Italian control.

Young people are currently being groomed in "every town" in Britain, according to a charity.

US woman killed by two-year-old son.

Eight dead in Canadian 'mass murder'.

First Scots same-sex weddings held.

UK Airport Ebola testing 'shambles'.

China's factory activity shrinks.

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But here's a story that reinstates our belief in the goodness of humanity. It's about a special man who runs free maths classes for primary age children. Mr Bright is a chemistry graduate and taught for many years before he and his wife arrived in the UK from Nigeria in 1990. Teaching is his life—his passion. After working with his own three children, he had the satisfaction of seeing them gain GCSE maths while in primary school. The couple realized other parents might struggle in a similar way with their children's maths problems, so they set up their first club to help different families. Just like his surname, Mr. Bright has been running the Bright Academy maths clubs for primary age children in London and Essex for 20 years. He and his wife don't charge for their assistance to children from the age of seven, believing he should plow back into the community the benefits given to him.

en.wikipedia.org

Of the 500 or so children who have taken the classes, about 50 gained their GCSE while still at primary school. Regardless of background, social or religious, the children are taught in an atmosphere of fun. The couple think of every child as gifted and present them with debates so each pupil can develop speaking skills. The aim is to encourage the children to aim to be the best in every field rather than focus on mathematics, to remove their distractions, and to give them a positive influence instead. For his services to children, Mr. Bright has been recognized in the New Year's Honour's list with an MBE (Member of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for services to education in East London. See full BBC article. I wish I'd had a Mr. Bright in my life as a youngster. I did well at literature and art, but maths never interested me. I can't say it was too hard, but rather that I didn't want to learn about numbers. I couldn't see the benefit. I'm lucky enough to be able to guess at approximate figures, without knowing how I arrived at the answer—I guess the left and right sides of my brain combine. Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if we all gave our best to the community like Mr. Bright?

A woman in Ireland, admitted to hospital for nausea and headaches, fell inside a bathroom and suffered a head wound last November. After fluid built up in her brain, doctors declared her clinically dead four days later.

Her two children know their mother is sick and believe she is being looked after by the nurses until the angels appear. After her body began deteriorating at such an alarming rate that it was unrecognizable, her family asked for the equipment to be switched off to preserve her dignity. But doctors refused, fearing they might be prosecuted under Ireland's strict Catholic-influenced abortion laws, which give the 18-week-old fetus the same constitutional rights as the mother. In a landmark ruling, Dublin's High Court gave doctors permission to switch off the life support machine keeping the young mother alive because she is pregnant. Under the Irish constitution, the fetus is regarded as a citizen. In their ruling, three High Court judges agreed the unborn baby had little chance of survival. Her condition is failing to such a degree that it will not be possible for the pregnancy to progress much further or to a point where any form of live birth will be possible. Medical evidence showed the unborn child had no realistic prospect of emerging alive.

Doctors with the best interests of both the mother and unborn child do not believe there is any medical or ethically based reason for continuing with the process. An intensive care specialist told the court she inspected the woman's body on Monday and found it unrecognizable compared to a photo of her by her bedside. Having practiced medicine for decades, she had never witnessed a clinically-dead person being kept on life support for so long. She said the woman's blood was becoming increasingly toxic. The case has reignited debate over Ireland's constitutional ban on abortion which requires doctors to take all possible measures to protect the life of a fetus. See full story at The Telegraph. This highly emotive subject is bound to touch us in some way. On the one hand, when the woman was pronounced dead, she should have been allowed to rest, pregnant or not. But what of the unborn life?

The latest news about kindness features a young woman who was so touched by an offer of help that she decided to spend 24 hours living rough to raise money for the homeless man who offered her his last £3. She lost her card on a night out in Lancashire, UK. She must have been searching around in her purse with a dismayed look on her face because the homeless man approached and offered her the last of his cash to help her get home safely. Although she didn't accept his money, she thought his kindness over and made a vow to spend 24 hours on the streets on mission to help him. Other people have come forward with stories of how he'd helped them during a time of need with offers of cash or even a warm scarf. As a beauty queen finalist, she must have been confident of her ability to touch the hearts of supporters. After driving around and around the next day, she finally located the man who is known as 'Robbie'. He told her he'd been evicted from his home and couldn't apply for a job because of his lack of address. She has launched a twitter campaign to raise funds for his deposit on a flat. Many young people have joined her by sleeping rough on the streets. So far, she has managed to raise nearly £25,000 and touched the hearts of thousands of people. To help, read the Daily Mail article. How wonderful to reward kindness from a stranger with returned benevolence. When I first lived in England in the late 80s, I worked in London. My eyes were opened by all the hopeless people sleeping in doorways early in the morning when I arrived for work at King's Cross. Back then, I stepped over them as if they were part of the rubbish cluttering the pavement. I'd been through a traumatic divorce and shifted half way around the world with just one suitcase full of clothes. Full of determination, I found a job within a week. I couldn't see why these homeless people were not trying. Now, I understand. Everyone's circumstances are different. At the age of 45, I had youth and strength and the right mentality on my side. I didn't see how excess alcohol could wear down a person's ability to care for themselves or how they might not possess the same ability or experience. What do you think about homeless people?

I read a story this morning about a US policeman who turned into a Good Samaritan. The local Dollar General store called the officer from Tarrant, Alabama to a shoplifting incident. However, he recognized the woman from previous visits to her home and felt sorry for her. All she stole was a dozen eggs to feed her children. He released her on good behavior with the recommendation that she never do such a thing again. Thank goodness, the store didn't press charges. The nice thing to come from the incident was that the officer purchased the eggs and handed them to her in the car park outside. So many people are finding it hard to feed their families these days. It makes you wonder what's gone wrong with society. But acts of kindness lift us above greed and corruption—one act at a time.

I haven't done anything kind recently. In my youth, I loved to help people in my own small way. I'm not sure if age and inaction should affect the way I behave. My excuse is that the only person I see is my husband. I'm kind to him and he's kind to me. Perhaps that's all we can ask. Have you done anything to make another person's life a little easier to take lately?

China has launched a global scientific research program to examine the unintended consequences of urban policies on human health and wellbeing. The majority of people now live in towns and cities and the global urban population is growing by an estimated one million people each week. The total could exceed six billion people by the end of the century. However, to do so, they face a number of health risks, such as air pollution. This environment separates them from rural areas and any contact with animals, birds and the trees which purify the air.

A spokesman told BBC News: "When we take an overview, urban areas are very important determinates of health. "The way we live on a day-to-day basis in cities affects our health in so many ways, whether it is the air that we breath, or the fact that many people in cities around the world are very sedentary (sitting at a desk in an office or sitting in a car to get to and from work) - and many people are also eating very unhealthy foods. "We are facing global epidemics of non-communicable diseases - heart disease, diabetes and so on - and mental health problems. We are also seeing the health impact of climate change, such as heat-stress in cities and changes in the distribution of infectious vector-borne diseases."

Cities are really about people not education or employment. The people who are attracted to live in urban areas should have plenty of open spaces where they can walk and relax. Just looking at different flowers can sooth the mind. How many health risks are people willing to take for the benefits that come with urban lives? pic: The world’s largest eco-city rising from wastelands in China. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120503-sustainable-cities-on-the-rise

Aldenham Reservoir, Elstree, Hertfordshire UK

I'm lucky to live in Elstree, Hertfordshire. I'm surrounded by fields and trees with not another building in sight. Horses graze on the land beyond a tall stand of trees at the front. Over the hill, lies Aldenham Reservoir. At the back, frost covers horse paddocks leading to stands of trees on the horizon. The only thing I could wish for is a view of water. But heck, a stream of vehicles pass by my front door. Depending on how blocked my ears are, the motors leave a pleasant swish not unlike waves breaking on the shore. (Yeah, in my dreams.) There are plenty of parks close by and several stands of water. But not everyone lives amongst nature. They might live in a tower block with no parks in sight. Or perhaps they're surrounded by slums. An occasional weed poking from between the hard-packed ground could be their only reminder of a natural life. Are your surroundings pleasant?

Last year, the Global Slavery Index announced the figures could be over 30,000 people who are enslaved. It's hard to believe slavery still goes on. Right now, someone living close by could be a slave. I'm casting my mind around, but I can't think of anyone who lives with strangers and looks unhappy. But how could I tell? Globally, the average cost of a slave is $90. That's incredible. A play station costs about three times as much as a person. Why should human beings be so undervalued? Trafficking primarily involves exploitation which comes in many forms. These include forcing victims into prostitution, subjecting victims to slavery or involuntary servitude and compelling victims to commit sex acts for the purpose of creating pornography. See more facts at DoSomething.org

At a conference of religious leaders and police chiefs in London to discuss what measures could best combat trafficking, the Archbishop of Westminster said young people in Africa are being sold the dream of living in the UK only to be tricked.Schools for football excellence in Africa entice youngsters with a promise of a career in the Premier League. As soon as they arrive in England they are enslaved. A recent Home Office report estimated that as many as 13,000 people in the UK have been trafficked into activities such as prostitution, domestic labour, factory work and working on fishing boats. Often, young people believe they are entering a better world, when in reality they are entering a nightmare from which they cannot escape. Pope Francis described trafficking as "an open wound on the body of contemporary society; a crime against humanity". I urge you to look around your area. Your intervention may help a poor victim. Combined, society can work wonders.

Two big events have recently been held to help couples with financial difficulties make their vows. Nearly 2,000 Brazilian couples married at an indoors sports venue in Rio de Janeiro.

Separated by a vast ocean, 600 African couples made their vows at a mass wedding ceremony in Harare, Zimbabwe.

In the biggest mass wedding in the city's history, prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa held the first of two ceremonies in Harare. So many couples applied, that they had to be split into two groups. The second group will get their turn early next year.

Brazil - www.bbc.co.uk

The annual event in Brazil, promoted by the local authorities, is aimed helping low-income couples who cannot afford to pay for a wedding. The event has been named "Dia do Sim", or "I Do Day". The couples and their guests arrived in special commuter trains. An estimated 12,000 people packed the arena at the Maracanazinho arena, which will be used for the Olympics in 2016. Volunteer civil judges presided over the ceremony, during which couples were blessed by a Roman Catholic bishop and a Christian evangelical pastor. But mass wedding ceremonies are not new.South Korea has became famous for its mass 'blessing' ceremonies since its inception in 1954. In February, a second wedding event was performed by the Unification Church since the death of leader and self-declared messiah Sun Myung Moon. The huge ceremony took place at the CheongShim Peace World Center, a 25,000-seat stadium in Gapyong-gun, South Korea. After their marriage, participants must refrain from sex for 40 days and nights to echo Jesus in the desert. Back in January, nearly 300 Palestinian couples took part in mass wedding ceremonies in the West Bank and Gaza, attended by the president. The Palestinian Authority paid for all the wedding expenses, which included a gift of $4,000 for each couple. Unfortunately, participants were separated according to location. Another 80 couples married at a parallel ceremony in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

www.bellethemagazine.com

Not everyone can afford to splurge on their 'dream wedding'. In England, venues are booked years ahead. Forking out money on guest gifts and a big banquet seems to me to be a complete waste of money. All a loving couple need is to promise love for another under the watchful eyes of society and they can embark on their lives together. They might make that promise in private to their Creator too. Here's the experience part: I married my first husband in a local church attended by a few friends and my mother. We had no gathering afterward. That union lasted 27 years. A celebrant conducted my second marriage. Very few people witnessed that one either. We all went to a Greek restaurant to celebrate with smashing glasses and dancing. After 26 years, my husband and I more loving and supportive of each other than ever. I like the way authorities in far-off countries have considered ordinary people's needs. Not everyone can afford a splendid, one-couple celebration.

On Saturday afternoon, a man with his wife and children, out to do Christmas shopping, drove by a bush close to the UK city centre of Manchester. He noticed what looked like a person lying behind a bush. In the busy area, many people were walking by. His first thought someone was drunk, or that it was a homeless person so they drove on. Although it might have been a prank, it played on his mind so they turned the car around and stopped to take a proper look. That's when he made the harrowing discovery of a stiff body with bruising on the side of his face. He panicked and called the paramedics, who said the man might have been attacked. A large police presence remained at the scene on Saturday evening, with a cordon surrounding a piece of grassed land. Detectives and will contacted him in a few days to allow him time to recover from the ordeal. Meanwhile, officers are trying to establish the identity and are in the early stages of investigating the death.

There must be a reason so many people walked right by the body and never noticed. Perhaps they were busy, or their mind was elsewhere. Maybe they just didn't care about somebody lying under a bush. But what if they could have saved the man's life earlier? Ir reminds me of the Good Samaritan parable. There is a possibility of harm to the passer-by. Perhaps it was a trap. You'd need to make the decision to help a stranger despite that, and ensure your own safety too. What would you do if you saw someone lying in disarray?

Whatever we do in any part of the planet, there is a cost involved unless we use only what we need and recycle our cast-offs. The best example of this is to live the way early man did, hunting and gathering. But too many people occupy the Earth now to revert to a simple way of life. Civilization has evolved to accommodate citizens in urban areas. Some people are doing so well in this system that they are eating more than is good for them—just because they can. I'm not talking about those who are ill and unable to control their weight, but people who live in built-up areas of population. The fast food industry thrives on such people—too busy doing other things, to cook their own food. The news today is shocking. Research has suggested the worldwide cost of obesity equals that of smoking or armed conflict and is greater than both alcoholism and climate change. The McKinsey Global Institute said it cost £1.3tn, or 2.8% of annual economic activity. Some about 30% of the world's population (2.1bn people) were overweight or obese, and the proportion could rise to almost half of the world's population by 2030. They said measures that relied less on individual responsibility should be used to tackle the problem. The steep economic toll of obesity is growing for health care and more widely in the economy. The rising prevalence of obesity is driving the increase in heart and lung disease, diabetes and lifestyle-related cancers. Illness causes a rising economic toll because of lost working days and labor output. Okay, we don't want, or need, to go back to the hunter-gatherer days. But I can't see any way out of this rise in obesity. Even though they want to, people can't lose weight once they put it on. The yo-yo effect of health diets followed by binges does no good at all. Perhaps it would help if we only ate food that is as natural as possible.

Psychiatrists at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom believe that ‘hip-hop’ therapy could help people who are depressed or mentally ill. A snippet taken from The Lancet Psychiatry, claims that lyrics about overcoming hardships and struggles offer a refuge for the desperate, while ‘rapping’ problems acts as an emotional outlet. Originating in the South Bronx area of New York during the early 1970s, the music, with links to gang warfare, drugs, glamorizing violence and objectifying women, has never claimed to aim at health. A spokesperson from the University of Cambridge says the lyrics reflect the issues faced by people brought up in areas of deprivation, poverty, marginalization, crime and drugs—key risk factors for mental illness. The lyrics reflect the world Hip-hop artists see, and express a means of breaking free to a place they want to be. The academics at Cambridge claim the bleak vision created by artists can reach people who feel in an equally hopeless place.

They recommend The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, released in 1982, which includes the lyrics: “I can't take the smell, can't take the noise Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice” The positive visual imagery is being investigated by the University of Oxford. The patient is encouraged to use the power of their imagination to help them through difficult times, including through depression and bipolar episodes. The psychotherapists are keen to take HIP HOP PSYCH into prisons, schools, and hostels to promote positive self-esteem through engagement with hip-hop artists. Now, I wouldn't listen to hip-hop. But we all have different tastes and different circumstances. Just like we all feel depressed at certain times of our lives. It's the human condition. You can read an excellent article on how depression affects the body here. My thanks go to Healthline for the link to the infographic. The interactive chart allows you to pick the side effect you want to learn more about.Never be afraid to seek help. Major depression has a serious effect on your life.I have a big life change looming ahead, but refuse to allow depression to take over. I've had low periods, but I've faced my fears and have decided to live each day with courage and appreciation. How about you?